A DELIGHTED theatre chief has welcomed a record £2,500 grant which he says will help safeguard the future of the stage in Kidderminster.

The Rose Theatre, owned by resident amateur group The Nonentities, has been handed the cash by Worcestershire County Council.

It will be used to develop the youth theatre, which has about 25 members ranging from 12 to 16.

The Nonentities have run the group, originally a joint project with Wyre Forest District Council, without help for a year - and the funding will "ease the burden", said chairman Colin Young.

He added it is the biggest single grant the theatre has been given by either the county council or Wyre Forest District Council.

"We're grateful for anything we can get. The members of the youth theatre are the future of not only The Nonentities but also of theatre in this town. They are the people who will be running the theatre in 30 or 40 years' time."

The Nonentities pay two teachers to train young members every Saturday. They will stage one production in the main house and one in the studio in the coming year as well as working front of house and backstage on main productions - and ideally progressing to the main society.

The grant is part of £69,500 handed out to 13 groups across the county by the council's arts and events team - and Mr Young hopes more will be forthcoming in future years.